MOUNT VERNON, Ohio — Ariel-Foundation Park will hold an opening day reception on Saturday, March 31, in the Urton Clock House/Museum, from noon until 2 p.m. Light refreshments will be available.

While the park does not officially open for the 2018 season until Monday, April 2, this reception will be a time for the public to learn about upcoming events at the park like the free concert and movie series. Guests can also explore the Museum and discover volunteer opportunities.

During this time, Foundation Park Conservancy will also debut the brand new Learning Stations project, an ongoing collaborative effort among Kenyon College, Mount Vernon Nazarene University and Central Ohio Technical College faculty and students. Attendees can browse the learning stations online.

Several learning stations have been designed to enhance the on-site park experience for visitors of all ages, as well as provide an online educational tool for anyone, anywhere, to enjoy the holistic story about the park, the areas around it, and the Knox County community, including natural ecology, industrial history, society, and culture. Information about other sites in and around the park will be added in the future. More learning stations will be added over time and instructions on how to use them will be found in the park kiosks and on the park website.

For more information about the opening day reception or anything regarding Ariel-Foundation Park, please call 740-398-6603 or e-mail marketing@arielfoundationpark.org. Follow the park on Facebook for all the latest news and info.

Westerville, OH, March 23, 2018 – Join the Delaware County Friends of the Trail for a family-friendly trail ride or walk celebrating Galena’s newest trail on National Trail Opening Day, Saturday, April 7.

Area residents including families, those newer to bicycling and those interested in local trails are invited to gather at 10 a.m. at the Galena Brick Trail trailhead in the 200-block of North Walnut Street near the Galena Cemetery. DCFT will have light refreshments, tire pumps and basic bicycle tools available.

The approximately eight-mile bicycle route will include the newest section of the Galena Brick Trail with picturesque views from the railroad trestle high over Little Walnut Creek, Preservation Parks of Delaware County’s Hoover Scenic Trail beside Hoover Reservoir, and the tree-lined Genoa Trail in Genoa Township.

DCFT volunteers will lead the ride and provide an introduction to basic ride safety as well as a brief overview of the Ohio to Erie Trail in eastern Delaware County. The ride will be on trails except for short connections on Dustin, Old 3C and Plumb roads. The ride will take approximately one hour based on an average speed of 10 to 12 miles per hour.

Ride participants must have helmets and should bring water and dress appropriately for the weather.

Those who prefer to walk are encouraged to stroll along the Galena Brick Trail, pause for views of the Little Walnut Creek and Hoover Reservoir in the distance and turn around where the trail meets Dustin Road.

The event may be cancelled in the event of rain or snow.

This sixth annual National Trail Opening Day is recognized by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy to celebrate the kick off of the spring trail season where people across the nation hit their favorite trails for a ride, walk, run or special event.

The Ohio to Erie Trail spans the state from the Ohio River in the southwestern corner of the state to Lake Erie near Cleveland, with about 280 miles of paved trails and about 50 miles on streets and rural roads.

In Delaware County, the trail passes from Westerville through Galena and Sunbury toward a short planned connection in northwest Licking County and on to the Heart of Ohio Trail in Knox County. DCFT is working with the villages of Sunbury and Galena, Preservation Parks of Delaware County and the Ohio to Erie Trail Fund to complete the approximately 13-mile section of the Ohio to Erie Trail through the eastern part of the county.

The DCFT is a nonprofit trail advocacy group dedicated to the development and maintenance of multi-use trails for recreation and transportation in Delaware County. Learn more at dcft.org or visit us on Facebook.

Q: I already made a donation to the Heartland Trail that qualifies to be on the plaque. What happens if I give more now?

A: Thank you for your previous donation! We encourage you to consider moving up a level with your additional gift. Regardless, every donation of every size will move us closer to completing the trail!

Levels of Giving for Plaque:

$250 = Bronze level. $500 = Silver Level

$1,000 = Gold Level. $2,500 = Platinum Level

$2,500 – Bench with name plaque. $10,000 = Mile Marker with name plaque.

Q: Can I make a donation with my credit card rather than writing a check?

A: Yes! See click link above.

However, if you prefer to send a check, please make it out to RTWC and mail it to PO Box 1566, Wooster, Ohio 44691

Q: Have funds secured for the Heartland Trail been spent before the grant was received?

A: Yes. The engineering and environmental studies have been completed and other expenses such as maintenance and preparation of the entire length of the Heartland Trail have been paid.

Q: Why is this campaign so urgent? Could you postpone the project until more money comes in?

A: We have been eagerly awaiting the trail completion between Orrville and Marshallville. We need the match for the $500,000 grant before we bid in early 2018 so that we can complete the 2.4 miles of trail.

Q: Once this section is done, what are the plans for the next phase?

A: We are currently engineering the connection between the 1st mile of trail in Orrville and Forrer Road. Our next priority will be to connect the trail at Main Street in Orrville to Forrer Road

It is with deep sadness and a heavy heart we announce the sudden and unexpected passing of OTETF Board of Directors President Tom Moffitt. Tom passionately served as Board President for over 16 years and worked tirelessly to fulfill Ed Honton’s vision of a multi-purpose cross state trail/greenway. Tom’s leadership and enthusiasm in working with local agencies and trail organizations to complete the Ohio to Erie Trail will forever be appreciated by present and future generations of trail users. Tom was a devoted educator in the greater Cincinnati area for over 45 years and as many of you may know an avid cyclist. He completed several cross county rides and rode the entire length of the Ohio to Erie Trail a number of times including this past September. Tom will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Ride in Peace Tom.

Columbus, Ohio, is setting itself up to be a model for connected, 21st-century cities with an eye on creating safe, equitable walking and biking routes across neighborhoods. Learn how its 180-mile developing trail system is opening up new avenues for health, transportation and exploration—and improving the quality of life for residents.

Produced by Rails to Trails magazine in partnership with DS Simon Media.

All proceeds from the ride support multi-purpose trail development in Delaware County connecting with the statewide Ohio to Erie Trail. The ride features options of 31, 62 and 100 miles as well as an 8-mile Family Ride, and includes scenic areas, rare bird habitats, parks, new sections of the Ohio to Erie Trail, well-marked route maps and SAG vehicle. Registration is from 6:30 a.m. – 9 a.m. for the 31, 62, and 100 mile riders and 10 a.m. for the Family Ride.

The ride will start/end at Northside Community Church, northeast corner of S.R. 3 and Freeman Road in Westerville, site of the homemade lunch. Pre-registration cost is $30 per rider, or $40 for day-of registration. Eight-mile Family Ride pre-registration is $35, or $45 for day-of registration.

“I must compliment you on your tremendous bike tour. This spring, at age 57, I decided that cycling was going to be my new fitness endeavor. I have participated in 5-6 organized rides and I have to say that I enjoyed your ride the best. All of your volunteers were as welcoming, friendly and informative as could possibly be. The many water stops were much appreciated. The lunch back at Northside Fellowship Church was homemade and perfect and delicious and the women that served the meal were awesome and so much fun to talk to.”

“Thanks for a great ride! The food was fabulous! The best I’ve tasted in decades.”

Registration

Registration includes a one-year membership to the Delaware County Friends of the Trail, the ride, and a catered lunch at the end of the ride. Click on the green button below for online registration or print the mail-in brochure found at the bottom of the page (brochure will not appear on mobile view of this website).